Finland Fast Becoming a Leading Manufacturer in the F-35 Program

Finland has begun producing structural components for the F-35 fifth generation fighter, marking a significant milestone for the country’s defence sector and for the wider program. The production effort will see Finnish companies manufacture components for F-35s operated not only by the Finnish Air Force, but also by international customers, integrating Finland more deeply into the world’s largest known weapons program.  The agreement represents a central element of Finland’s decision to select the F-35A over competing fighters under the country’s HX fighter tender in December 2021, with evaluations based not only on the combat aircraft’s capabilities, but also on the industrial benefits offered. 

Finland has required extensive domestic participation, with industrial cooperation valued at a minimum of 30 percent of the contract price of procuring 64 F-35A fighters. Under the agreement, Finnish firms will produce the F-35’s forward fuselage structures, including components intended for export aircraft. The agreement also includes the production of structural parts, the development of maintenance capabilities, equipment testing, and opportunities for domestic engine-related work. The industrial arrangement is expected to generate approximately 4,500 direct and 1,500 indirect person-years of employment in Finland. Lockheed Martin has stated that Finnish F-35 component production will continue for more than 20 years, while sustainment activities are expected to continue into the 2070s as Finland operates and maintains its fleet.

Finland’s production of F-35 parts represents a significant expansion of the country’s role in the global aerospace industry, with the production of components for export being particularly important due to the F-35’s outstandingly large client base for a post-Cold War fighter type. Alongside manufacturing, Finland has negotiated extensive sovereign maintenance capabilities for its F-35 fleet. The agreement includes the establishment of domestic service facilities, Finnish-controlled spare parts reserves, and participation in the multinational F-35 sustainment network. Major General Kari Renko, Chief of the Finnish Defence Forces Logistics Command, stated that Finland would possess the most extensive domestic F-35 servicing capability outside the United States.

The F-35’s selection was primarily driven by the assessed superiority of its combat and reconnaissance capabilities over other Western fighter types. During Finland’s HX evaluation process, the aircraft was judged to provide the most advanced combination of stealth, sensors, electronic warfare capabilities, data sharing and situational awareness among the competing aircraft. According to Finnish Air Force commander Major General Pasi Jokinen, the F-35 achieved the highest overall score in the HX competition, receiving a rating of 4.47, compared with 3.81 for the Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, which finished second. The evaluation considered four major categories: military performance, security of supply, industrial cooperation, and cost. A score of 4.0 was established as the minimum threshold required for selection. The F-35A has won every tender in which it has competed against the F-18 and European fighter types.